Wardrobe trunk



Feb. 6, 1923. 1,444,718. A. w. WINSHIP.

WARDROBE TRUNK.

FILED FEB-1. 1921. 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

27 o o D u N fr (June/Mom Patented ch. 6, i923,

earner ALBERT VJ. 'WINSHIP, 0F UTICA, NET/V YORK.

VABIDRQBE TRUNK.

Application filed February 7,1921.

2" 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that if, Annual /V. /VINsHir, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Utica, in the county of Oneida. and State f New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wardrobe Trunks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the reference numerals marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

l*/ y present invention relates to wardrobe trunks meaning thereby as is usual in the trunk business today trunks having a wardrobe section where clothes may be hung up usually upon a rack and another section which is equipped with drawers or other suitable receptacles.

The purpose of my present invention is to provide an improved trunk of the character described, one which is novel in construction, convenient in use and strong enough to resist the hard usage to which trunks are subj ecte d.

it has been common heretofore in centrally opening wardrobe trunks to have the open side of the wardrobe sect-ion towards the inner side of the chiifonier or the drawer section, that is towards the side of the chiffonier section which faces the wardrobe section, but in such trunks the drawers of the chiffonier section have drawn out through the inner side of the chiifonier section, that is the open side of the chiifonier section has been the side facing the inner or open side of the wardrobe section.

The disadvantage of that construction is that the two sections or halves of the trunk have to be swung out on their hinges past a right angle and in practice substantially in a straight line in order to allow the drawers to be drawn out. One purpose of my present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of that form of a centrally opening wardrobe trunk which I do by having the forward side of the cliifl'onier section the open side and have vthe drawers slide out through said open side. It is the purpose therefore of this invention to combine properly in a centrally opening wardrobe trunk a wardrobe section opening on its inner side and a chi'lfonier section opening on its front side.

their hinges to Serial No. 443,258.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a centrally opening wardrobe trunk of the character described having closure for covering the front of the drawers which closure furthermore forms a means for detachably but strongly connecting the forward inner edge of the wardrobe section to the outer forward edge or corner of the chiffonier section. 7

Another object is to provide in a centrally opening wardrobe trunk the feature of drawers sliding in the line of their length instead of crosswise of their long dimension.

A further purpose is to provide a centrally opening wardrobe trunk wherein the chiffonier section has at its inner side a strong partition either entirely solid or heavily panelled forming a partition and brace extending from the forward inner edge of the chiitonier section to the rear inner edge of the ch'iii'onier section; and further to provide in combination therewith a light swinging door forming not only a closure for the open front of the chiffonier section, but also means for securely but detachably connecting and interbracing the forward inner edge of the wardrobe section with the outer forward edge or corner of the chiffonier section.

Further purposes and objects of my invention are to provide construct-ions, combinations and arrangements of parts in a wardrobe trunk particularly adapted to accomplish the foregoing purposes.

nig. 1 is an isometric projection of a trunk embodying my invention with its two closures opened but with the two sections of the trunk still together.

Fig. 2 is an isometric projection of said trunk with its twosections moved apart on give full access to the wardrobe section.

F 3 is a vertical sectional view through the top of the chiffonier section and the top of the wardrobe section showing a modified form of top closure for the wardrobe section.

Fig. Jr is a detail horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale of the meeting forward edges of the two sections of the trunk.

,ferring to the'drawings in a particular deccriptiom it will be seen that the trunk consists of a wardrobe section 8 and a chiffonier section 9 hinged together along their adjacent inner rear vertical edges by a suit able number of hinges 10, a closure 11 for the Open top of the wardrobe section and a closure 12 for the open front of the chiffonier section.

The wardrobe section 8 has a bottom 13., a front side 14, a rear side 15 and an outer side 16 all rigidly and permanently fastened together leaving said wardrobe section 'open at its top and also open. at its inner side meaning the side towards the chifionier section and so the side of the wardrobe section which is inside when the trunk is closed.

The chiffonier section 9 is composed of a bottom 17 a rear side 18, an outer side 19, a top 20 and an inner side 21 either solid or panelled all rigidly and permanently fastened together and leaving said chiffonier section with its forward side open.

I have shown the chiffonier section 9 as provided with a plurality of drawers 22 mounted. in the section between front drawer guides 23 and corresponding internal drawer guides 23 as this equipment is the preferred one and will be usual in the full embodiment of my invention. it will be understood, however that in the broadest form of my invention the particular arrangement or character of these containers in the chiffonier section is not the essential feature, but rather that of having said wardrobe section open at its forward side with the containers removable therefrom lengthwise of the section and with the opening closed by a closure which is a means of detachably connecting the forward inner edge of the wardrobe section to the outer forward edge or corner of the chifionier section. Where as is the usual construction and is also the preferred construction in my complete combination, the drawers 22 are used it will be seen that they slide lengthwise of the drawers which produce the free sliding and non-cramping drawer such as found in a desk in contradistinction to a drawer sliding on its short sides or at right angles to its length as is commonly found in a chiffonier or bureau and as has heretofore been used in a centrally opening wardrobe trunk. T his lengthwise sliding of the drawers produces a free sliding and non-cramping drawer not only as against sidewise cramping but as against vertical cramping so that the drawer can be drawn out a long distance without dropping down or cramping so much as to prevent readily shoving the drawer back into place.

The inner side 21 of the wardrobe section is constructed either as a solid partition or as a deeply panelled member so that the inner side of the chiffonier section forms a strong inner side for the chiffonier section operating to tie together very strongly the inner edges of the top. 20, bottom 17 and rear side 18 andforming a very strong bracing member preventing any annular or diagonal distortion of the chiffonier section at its inner side or edge. This strengthening and bracing action however, is further directly lent to the open inner side of the wardrobe section in that the rear side 15 has its inner edge attached directly to the inner edge of the rear side 18 of the chiffonier section by hinges 10 and in that the forward side 1 1 of the wardrobe section when the trunk is closed has its inner edge closely aligned with the forward edge said panelled inner side 21 of the chiifonier section'by means which will be hereinafter more particularly described and also in that the inner edge of the bottom 13 of the wardrobe section will be closely aligned with the bottom edge of the said panel section of the chiflonier sec tion when the two sections are closed whereby any bulging downward of the inner edge of the bottom 13 will be prevented through the valance stri 2% on the inner edge of the bottom 17 overlapping the adjacent inner edge of the bottom 13.

The closure 12 forms not only the closure proper for the open front of the chiffonier section, but at the same time forms very strong means for detachably connecting the inner edge of the wardrobe section front side 14- with. 13118 forward outer edge or corner of the chiffonier section and so binding and bracing the two sections of the trunk well together when the trunk is closed. In my preferred form and as shown in the drawings said closure 12 has one edge attached to the inner edge of the front side 14 by a plurality of hinges 25 while the other side of said closure is adapted to closely fit the forward edge of the outer side 19 of the chiffonier by means of valance strip 26 on said closure overlapping the outside of said forward edge of outer side 19 and by said closure having its outer edge detaohably secured to the forward edge or corner of the outer side 19 ofthe chiffonier section by means of 2. plurality of spring catches 27 and a lock 28 of any desired form.

Preferably the valance strip 26 will be extended as at 26 along the top edge of the closure 12 so as to overlap and closely fit the outside of the forward edge of the top 20 of the chilfonier section. 7

In order to admit of the closure 12 being opened without striking or swinging unoii the floor I prefer to have said closure little shorterthan the height of the trunk and not extend quite to the bottom of the chiffonier section. A cordingly the chiffonier section has a small front piece 29 extending from the bottom up few inches to the line where the drawers 22 begin. The space thus provided in the bottom of the chiffoni er section below the lowermost drawer may be used. for storand is accessible upon taking out the lowermost drawer.

Suitable are provided apart from the closure 12 for detachably fastening the inner edge of the front 14 of the wardrobe section to the inner forward corner of the wardrobe section prior to the shutting of the closure 12 and so operating to hold the two sections of the trunk as well together after the closure 12 and also closure 11 have been opened. As means for this direct fastening there is provided a flat spring 30 projecting from the inner surface of the inner edge the front 14 across the open front of the chillonier section and adapted to engage a projecting lug 31 suitably located upon the chiffonier section as by being placed upon one of the forward drawer guides 23.

While I have shown and particularly de scribed the closure 12 as being hinged to the wardrobe section and detachably fastened at its corner edge to the corner of the chiffonier section, it will be obvious that the reverse of this arrangement is within the scope of my invention and within some of the claims hereinafter set forth.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the closure 11 for the open top of the wardrobe section is secured by hinges 32 to the inner edge of the top 20 of the chitlonier section and the outer edge of said closure is detachably fastened to the outer edge ofthe outer side 16 of the wardrobe section as by spring catches 33 and lock 34:. From the free ed es of the top 11 there also projects downwardly a valance strip overlapping the outside of the wardrobe section about its upper outer edges. It will be obvious that in this construction this: top closure 11 being hinged along the'line of the panel or parti tion 21 of the chifl onier section is well secured at that edge and through its overlapping valance strip and its lock 34 is well secured to the wardrobe section and adds greatly to the strength of the upper end of the top of said wardrobe s ction when said closure in. place as it always will be during transit or handling of the trunk. It will be noted that with this arr a-ngement of the closure 11, access may be had to the wardrobe section independently of the closure 12 and entirely independent of the outwardly hinging action of the two sections of the trunk. In other words a user of the trunk desiring to get a garment from the wardrobe section can simply unlock and open the top closure 11 and reach down into the wardrobe section for the desiredarticle without having to unlock or open the closure 12 and without having to swing the two halves or sections of the trunk open.

It will be seen that one advantage of my invention is that access can readily be had to the drawers 22 of the chift'onier section or to the compartment below the lower drawer in back of the small side piece 29 by simply unlocking and opening the front closure 12 and without having to open the top closure 11 and also without having to swing the wardrobe section and the chiffonier section apart upon the hinges. A further advantage incident to this front opening of the chifi onier section is that the drawers slide lengthwise and so free and without cramping and still further that through the drawers sliding lengthwise thereof and through the front of the chilionier section instead of through its side the two sections of the trunk need only'be swung to right angles to each other in order to give full and convenient access to both the drawers and the wardrobe section. There follows from this fact the further advantage that this trunk when moved to its normal fully opened aosition namely with. its sections at right angles to each other, does not occupy as much space as the usual central opening trunk which has to have its two sections swung practically back into a straight line. Furthermore, the fact that this trunk has both of its parts fully accessible when its parts are at said right angles to each other results in the trunk being steadier and practicallyincapable of being tipped over in that each section acts as an angular anchor for the other section. This is a. decided advantage over the central opening trun'lrs which when fully swung open are very liable to tip back or forward in that they have a very narrow base in proportion to the height. At the same time my wardrobe trunk is entirely capable of having its two sections opened up to be in line with each other when desired and is fully usable at that position.

Fig. 3 is a detail showing a modified form of my trunk in that the top closure 11 is hinged at its outer edge to the outer edge of the outer side 16 of the wardrobe section and the inner edge of said closure is detachably secured to the inner edge of the top 20 of the chiffonier section. With this form. of top closure the inner or free edge of the closure will when the two sections of the trunk are brought together be inside a valance strip 36 projecting out from the top 20. Obviously this form of closure cannot be opened without the two halves or sections of the trunk being first opened up. lVith this form of construction however, tl e necessity for an additional lock or spring catches for the top closure is dispensed with in that. the said top closure is automatically locked when the wardrobe section and chiffonier section are again swung together.

hieans are provided for having the forward inner edge of the front side 14 of the wardrobe section and the front inner corner of the chiffonier section closely engage and re-inforce each other when the two sections of the trunk are closed. A convenient and the preferred form for such means are a cleat ll securely fastened to the inner surface of the side 14 adjacent its edge and a cleat 12 securely fastened to the panel 21 of the chiffonier section short distance bacir from its forward edge as shown in e. The forward edge of cleat i that is the side appearing in 2 will when the two sections of the trunk are brought together fit against the portion 21 of the panel 21 forward of cleat t2 and so prevent the side A from being drawn past proper position. At the same time the forward side 42 of the cleat 4&2 will be engaged by the surface of the cleat ll far-test from the side A and so prevent the side i l from being pr seed inward past its proper position.

/Vhat l. claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A centrally opening wardrobe truul: consistin of a wardrobe section and a chiil'onier section hinged together along their rear adjacent vertical edges, means for detachably securing the front adjacent edges of the two sections independent of the do sures therefor, the wardrobe section being open on its inner side whereby opening of the trunk along its center gives access to the wardrobe section, the chiflonier section being open its front side and having a panel facing the wardrobe section and connecting the inner edges of the top, bottom and rear and front sides of the section and a closure for said front side of the chiil'onier hinged to the front inner edge of the wardrobe section and forrning means to detachably connect the front inner edge of the wardrobe section and the outer front edge of the chiffonicr section.

2, A centrally opening wardrobe trunk consisting of wardrobe section and a chiffonier section hinged together along th ir rear adjacent vertical edges, means ror detachably securing the front adjacent edges of the two sections independent of the closures therefor, the vardrobe section being open on its inner side whereby opening of the trunk along its center gives access to the wardrobe section, the chiffonier section being open at its front side and provided with drawers sliding out through said open front side, the chiffonier section also having a panel facing the wardrobe section and connecting the inner edges of the top, bottom and rear and front sides of the section. and a closure for said front side of the chiffonier forming means to detachably connect the front. inner edge of the wardrobe section and the otuer front edge of the chiffonier section.

A centrally opening wardrobe trunk consisting of a wardrobe section and a chiffonier section hinged together along their rear adjacent vertical edges, means for detachably securing the front adjacent edges of the two sections, the wardrobe section bein open on its inner side whereby opening or the trunk along its center gives access to the wardrobe section, the chiffonier section being open at its front side and provided with drawer sliding out through said open. front side, the chiflonier section also having a panel facing the wardrobe section and connecting the inner edges of the top, bottom and rear and front sides of the section and a closure for said front side ofthe chiflonier hinged to the front inner edge of the wardrobe section and detachably secured to the forward enter edge of the chiffonier section.

f. A centrally opening wardrobe trunk consisting of a wardrobe section and a chiffonier section hinged together along their rear adjacent vertical edge means for de tachably securing the front adjacent edges of the two sections, the wardrobe section being open on its inner side whereby opening of the trunk along itscenter gives access to the wardrobe section, the wardrobe section being open at its top, a closure for the top opening of the wardrobe section, the chiffonier section being open at its front side and provided with drawers sliding out through said open front side, the chiffonier section also having a panel facing the wardrobe section and connecting the in nor edges of the top, bottom and rear and front sic es of the section and a closure for said front side of the chiffonier hinged to the front inner edge of the wardrobe section and forming means to detachably connect the front inner edge of the wardrobe section and the outer front edge of the chiffonier section.

5. A centrally opening wardrobe trunk consisting of a wardrobe section and a chiffonier section hinged together along their rear adjacent vertical edges, means ior detachably securing the front adjacent edges of the two sections, the wardrobe section being open on its inner side whereby opening of the trunk along its center gives access to the wardrobe section, the wardrobe section being open. at its top, a closure for said top opening of the wardrobe section hinged to the chiffonier section along its top inner edge and overlapping the top edges of the wardrobe section, the chifl'onier section being open at its front side and provided with drawers sliding out through said open front side, the chii'fonier section also having a panel facing the wardrobe section and con necting the inner edges of the top, bottom. and rear and front sides of the section and a closure for said front side of the chiffonier hinged to the front inner of the wardrobe section and forming means to detacln' ably connect the front inner edge of the wardrobe section and the outer front edge of the chiffonier section.

6. A centrally opening wardrobe trunk consisting of a wardrobe section and a chiffonier section hinged together along their rear adjacent vertical edges, means for detachably securing the front adjacent edges of the two sections, the wardrobe section being open on its inner side whereby opening of the trunk along its center gives access to the Wardrobe section, the Wardrobe section being open at its top, a closure for said top opening of the Wardrobe section hinged to the ohifionier section along its top inner edge and overlapping the top edges of the wardrobe section, the chiflonier section being open at its front side and prorided with drawers sliding out through said open front side, the chiifonier section also having a panel facing the Wardrobe section and con necting the inner edges of the top, bottom and rear and front sides of the section and a closure for said front side of the chiflonier hinged to the front inner edge of the Ward robe section and detachably secured to the forward outer edge of the chiffonier section.

7. A centrally opening Wardrobe trunk consisting of a Wardrobe section and a chiffonier section hinged together along their rear adjacent vertical edges, the Wardrobe section being open at its inner side whereby opening of the trunk along its center gives access to the Wardrobe section, the chiffonier section having a complete solid bottom but being open at its front side thereabove and having a panel facing the Wardrobe sectionand connecting the inner edges of the top, bottom and rear and front sides of the section and a closure for said open part of the front side of the chiffonier hinged to the front inner edge of the Wardrobe section and forming means to detachably connect the said front inner edge of the Wardrobe section and the outer'front edge of the chiffonier section.

In Witness whereof I have afiixed my signature this 31 day of January 1921.

ALBERT W. WINSHIP; 

